Srinagar, November 19: Indian troops, in their fresh cordon and search operation, killed six militants in Hajin area of Bandipore district.

The militants were killed in a gunfight with Indian forces at Chadergeera in Hajin area of the district, last night. A commando of Indian Air Force was also killed and two Indian soldiers were injured in the gunfight.

According to a police official a joint team of Army, police and Central Reserve Police Force were involved in cordon and search operation CASO in Chandergair locality of Hajin.

The police official identified the slain commando as JP Nirala and injured soldier as Lance Naik Ranjeet of Army’s 13 RR unit stationed at Manasbal.

“The encounter is now finished and was a success,” the region’s police chief Shesh Paul Vaid said. “A total of six LeT militants were eliminated.”

Meanwhile, clashes erupted in the area soon after the forces started the CASO. “Locals including youth and women took to streets and pelted stones on forces. The troops fired dozens of teargas shells, triggering intense clashes.

Internet and mobile services were snapped in Bandipora district after the incident.

A guerilla war is going on between militants and Indian troops stationed in Indian-controlled Kashmir since 1989. Gunfights between the two sides take place intermittently across the region.

JRL calls for shutdown, Today

Kashmir’s joint separatist leadership comprising Syed Ali Shah Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Muhammad Yasin Malik, has called for complete shutdown on Sunday against the “cordon and search operations being carried out by armed forces in the Valley during which dozens of youth have died in different areas, including HajinPulwama and Zakura”.

In a statement the leadership said, “Section of youth feels forced to find expression to their political aspirations and will by resorting to armed means because of stubbornness on the part of Government of India with regard to the resolution of the Kashmir dispute.”

“Government of India should stop killings and instead resolve the internationally acknowledged Kashmir issue in accordance with internationally accepted means of dispute resolution so that precious human lives are not lost and peace and security prevails in the region,” the statement added.